PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 20, 2018) – Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) is pleased to announce its first University Relations partnership with Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine (LMU-CVM). Through this partnership, CVP hospitals will provide real-world clinical experiences for fourth-year veterinary students as part of LMU-CVM’s Clinical Year Hybrid Distributed Education Program Model.

LMU-CVM’s Clinical Year Hybrid Distributed Education Program Model includes clinical immersion and hands-on experiential learning. Students are required to take rotations in small animal general practice, specialty practice, diagnostic pathology and large animal practice and have the opportunity to select electives that enhance their professional goals and interests. CVP will provide clinical year experiences at select CVP sites for student rotations, including areas of interest in clinical trials, equine, mixed animal, small animal, and small animal with an exposure to exotics and wildlife.

CVP launched its University Relations Initiative earlier this year to develop partnerships with veterinary programs at some of the leading universities to provide students with clinical externship and leadership opportunities within CVP’s hospital network. Through the CVP program, students will be exposed to fast-paced, exciting and true entrepreneurial work environments alongside veterinary professionals delivering unapparelled patient and client care with uncompromising compassion.

“By partnering with universities like LMU, we will be able to offer students educational, professional leadership and career development opportunities,” said Kevin Ruffe, Community Veterinary Partners CEO. “We want to help prepare the next generation of veterinarians. LMU-CVM’s vision to produce the best veterinary professionals is well-aligned with what we want to accomplish at CVP.”

“Partnering with quality practices like CVP is an essential part of educating our students to become confident, competent, career-ready veterinarians to meet the needs of society,” said LMU-CVM Vice President and Dean Dr. Jason Johnson. “The experiences and mentorship our students will gain through working in these practices will give them the hands-on experience and skill set they need to be successful upon graduation. We appreciate our partnership with CVP and look forward to developing this relationship.”

CVP is also thrilled to announce Casey Hagg, a second-year student at LMU-DVM, has been named CVP’s first Student Ambassador. As a Student Ambassador, Hagg will work with CVP to develop student outreach programs and serve as an adviser to help CVP identify initiatives that will benefit veterinary students and the surrounding animal care community. The CVP Student Ambassador Program will provide Hagg with professional mentoring, career coaching, externships at CVP’s hospitals and leadership opportunities.

“We are thrilled to have Casey as part of the University Relations team at Community Veterinary Partners,” said Dr. Laura Strong, University Relations director at CVP. “Casey’s interest in assuming a leadership role and her interest in giving back to her community make her a natural fit to be a CVP Student Ambassador. I’m looking forward to working with her to bring this program to life.”

The CVP-LMU partnership will continue to evolve in the best interests of the veterinary student and the veterinary community. CVP believes future veterinary leaders will be an integral part of continuing to advance care for our patients and is committed to helping prepare them for that feat.

About Community Veterinary Partners

Community Veterinary Partners is a family of over 50 animal hospitals brought together to collaborate on the best way to deliver quality care to its patients and a first-rate experience for its clients. It is committed to investing in and partnering with leading hospitals, nurturing and developing the best people, and providing support services that are paramount in its industry. Quality of care is always foremost and will forever remain at the hospital level with CVP. More information is available at www.cvpco.com.

About Lincoln Memorial University

Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine is located on LMU’s main campus in Harrogate, Tenn., with additional academic facilities in nearby Lee County, Va. LMU-CVM is an integral part of the university’s medical programs and provides real-world, community-based education in a collaborative learning environment. For more information about LMU-CVM, call 800-325-0900, ext. 7150, or visit us online at vetmed.LMUnet.edu.

PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 20, 2018) – Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) is happy to announce Seneca Hill Animal Hospital, Resort & Spa in Great Falls, Va., has joined the CVP family. Seneca Hill’s 27,000-square-foot facility is CVP’s second-largest animal hospital and the 55th hospital acquired by the company to date.

“Seneca Hill is an exciting addition to our network of hospitals in the D.C. area,” said Kevin Ruffe, CEO at CVP. “The commitment of Dr. Homan and her team to providing high-quality and compassionate care aligns well with CVP’s mission and makes them an ideal fit to join our growing network.”

Led by Dr. Janice Homan, Seneca Hill is an AAHA-accredited animal hospital that has grown from a small 1,200-square-foot farm house in 1981 to an expansive 27,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2014. Drs. Randy Custer, Katherine Newland, Jarrod Ludwig, Annie Welsh and Susan Sacks round off the veterinary team that holds the highest rating from Washington Consumers’ Checkbook.

“What Dr. Homan and her team have built at Seneca Hill is really impressive, and we are looking forward to working with them as they continue to provide the best veterinary care and resort services to the Great Falls community,” added Ryan Lindgren, VP of Business Development at CVP. “Seneca Hill is our 10th hospital in Virginia, and we hope to continue to add more hospitals like Seneca Hill from the state to our family in the near future.”

From clinical care to resort services, Seneca Hill offers clients a complete commitment to total pet indulgence. Veterinary services like surgery, dentistry, an in-house pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, ultrasound, electrocardiograms and senior care are rounded out with resort services such as day care, training, grooming, physical therapy and swimming in the Aquatic Center’s indoor pool. During peak periods, the resort accommodates over 100 dogs and cats and has been rated best in the D.C. Metro area by the veterinary community.

About Community Veterinary Partners

Community Veterinary Partners is a family of over 50 animal hospitals brought together to collaborate on the best way to deliver quality care to our patients and a first-rate experience for our clients. We are committed to investing in and partnering with leading hospitals, nurturing and developing the best people and providing support services that are paramount in our industry. Quality of care is always foremost and will forever remain at the hospital level with CVP. More information is available at www.cvpco.com.

PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 19, 2018) – Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) is pleased to announce the launch of the CVP University Relations Initiative to further prepare veterinary students for the successful transition from study to veterinary practice. Dr. Laura Strong, a 25-year veteran of the veterinary industry, has been chosen to spearhead the initiative.

The CVP University Relations Initiative includes developing partnerships with veterinary programs at some of the leading universities, engaging student ambassadors to administer student outreach programs, offering externship and mentorship opportunities within CVP’s hospital network, and identifying new opportunities for tuition reimbursement. Through the CVP program, students will be exposed to fast-paced, exciting and true entrepreneurial work environments alongside veterinary professionals delivering unapparelled patient and client care with uncompromising compassion.

“We want to help grow veterinary learners into veterinary leaders. One of the ways for us to make an impact is to work with our university partners to offer students educational, professional leadership and career development opportunities while they are still in school,” Strong commented. “Through my years of practice, I felt it was our duty to prepare the next generation of veterinarians and am excited to be working with our hospitals and our students on this initiative.”

CVP’s mission is to be there for its clients by providing unparalleled medical care in a compassionate atmosphere so its patients can live long and healthy lives. CVP embraces the concept that clinical practices and pet care should remain with the veterinarians at the hospital level. The CVP University Relations Initiative will prepare its future veterinarians to make those decisions and deliver the highest quality of care to its patients.

“The veterinarians within our network of hospitals are some of the best in the industry. They are committed to providing quality clinical care to their patients. They are also committed to growing our family of veterinarians by preparing the next generation,” said Kevin Ruffe, CEO of CVP. “Through the University Relations program, we can begin to bring down the barriers related to the success of new graduates, including the lack of clinical experience, client communication skills and loan repayment. That’s a win-win for everyone.”

About Community Veterinary Partners

Community Veterinary Partners is a family of over 50 animal hospitals brought together to collaborate on the best way to deliver quality care to our patients and a first-rate experience for our clients. We are committed to investing in and partnering with leading hospitals, nurturing and developing the best people and providing support services that are paramount in our industry. Quality of care is always foremost and will forever remain at the hospital level with CVP. More information is available at www.cvpco.com.

PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 16, 2018) – Community Veterinary Partners is pleased to announce it has acquired Maywood Veterinary Clinic in Maywood, N.J. Led by Dr. Jay Buchholz, this clinic has served the Maywood community since 1987. In the winter of 2009, the clinic moved to a larger location on East Passaic Street, which it still calls home today. Accompanied by Drs. Faith Krausman, Jieun Kwon, Wendy Lim, Kimberly Pompo and Brett Swan, the Maywood Veterinary Clinic team offers AAHA-accredited care to a variety of animals.

“Partnering with CVP was a relatively easy decision. I worked hard to grow my practice and am proud of the culture that we have here. I found comfort that CVP will not change our culture and encourages us to go on doing what has worked, remaining our own, unique practice. I am looking forward to having a wealth of resources available to help us grow and to continuing to provide veterinary care to our community,” commented Dr. Buchholz. “CVP will allow me to take a step back from the administrative aspects of the business and devote more time to doing what I love – practicing medicine and doing surgery. And time to travel and pursue my love of photography.”

Community Veterinary Partners selects hospitals to join their network that have demonstrated a commitment to providing quality care and have established reputations within their communities. “Quality of care is paramount for every hospital we partner with at CVP. Dr. Buchholz and his staff’s attention to the needs of each one of their patients and clients makes them an ideal hospital to join the CVP family,” added Ryan Lindgren, VP of Business Development at Community Veterinary Partners. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome them.”

About Community Veterinary Partners

Community Veterinary Partners owns and operates veterinary hospitals and is committed to providing world-class treatment and health services to animals. The company strives to maintain each hospital’s individual brand and reputation in its community. The CVP family currently consists of 54 animal hospitals in 10 states. More information is available at www.cvpco.com/.

PHILADELPHIA (July 23, 2018) – Community Veterinary Partners (“CVP”) is pleased to announce it has purchased Leesville Animal Hospital located in Raleigh, NC. The addition of Leesville brings CVP’s total network of hospitals count to 52.

Dr. Harold Pearce has been the lead doctor at Leesville since the hospital opened in 1988. He received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Illinois in 1984 and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa national honor society. Leesville has expanded to almost five times its original size since Pearce opened its doors 30 years ago.

“Leesville’s focus on patient care and their commitment to the Raleigh community make them an ideal fit for the CVP family of hospitals,” said Ryan Lindgren, VP of Business Development. “We are looking forward to working with them to grow their practice and serve more families in the Raleigh area.”

“After considering over 12 companies, we decided on CVP due to the consistent responses we heard from their current partners about the way CVP has handled their hospitals since being purchased,” Pearce said. “We heard over and over again how CVP became an asset to their hospitals rather than a roadblock to their growth. We are excited to be considered part of the CVP family and look forward to the years ahead!”

Leesville Animal Hospital offers a comprehensive list of services, including preventive care, behavioral counseling, dental care, diagnostics, microchipping and surgical services. The hospital also houses one of the only hydrotherapy tanks in the area, allowing the practice to offer patients water therapy services. It has an in-house pharmacy and a laboratory. Leesville Animal Hospital currently has three practicing doctors: Dr. Pearce, Dr. Amy Neligon and Dr. Read Tull.

About Community Veterinary Partners

Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) owns and operates veterinary hospitals and is committed to providing world-class treatment and health services to animals. The company strives to maintain each hospital’s individual brand and reputation in its community. The CVP family currently consists of 52 animal hospitals in 10 states. More information is available at www.cvpco.com/.

The purchase of Mill Pond brings the CVP network to 51 hospitals. Partner Veterinarian Dr. Deborah Yarrow graduated from St. Michael’s College in 1978 and Purdue’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1982. She started her veterinary career by beginning a house-call practice while searching for a location for her own hospital. In 1997, she opened the doors to Mill Pond.

Lead Doctor Kevin Wray will lead the medical team at Mill Pond. Dr. Wray graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2004 from Bucknell University and then went on to earn his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008.

Open 7 days a week, the Mill Pond team offers a comprehensive list of services ranging from video otoscopy, dentistry, surgery and radiology to an in-house pharmacy. Mill Pond currently has four practicing doctors: Yarrow, Wray, Chelsea Markleski and Kenton Moore. Moore joined the Mill Pond team in 2017, adding acupuncture and cold laser therapy to the practice’s list of services. Mill Pond Veterinary Hospital is accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is certified feline-friendly.

About Community Veterinary Partners

Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) owns and operates veterinary hospitals and is committed to providing world-class treatment and health services to animals. The company strives to maintain each hospital’s individual brand and reputation in its community. The CVP family currently consists of 51 animal hospitals in 10 states. More information is available at www.cvpco.com/.

PHILADELPHIA (July 2, 2018) – Community Veterinary Partners is pleased to announce that it has acquired its 50th hospital. This milestone was reached through the purchase of Nassau Veterinary Clinic in New York.

Founded in 2009, CVP provides operational support to 50 hospitals in 10 states, allowing veterinarians to focus on practicing medicine.

“Our whole staff is very excited about this important milestone,” said CVP CEO Kevin Ruffe. “I saw an opportunity for growth when I joined CVP earlier this year, and I’m confident that we’ll continue to see this level of success throughout the rest of the year.”

Dr. Lisa Dietrich (Zimmerman) and Dr. Thomas Phillips are the lead doctors at Nassau Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Dietrich helped her father, Dr. Herbert Dietrich, at the practice as a small child by going on farm calls and helping out in all areas of the hospital. She was hired as a veterinarian at Nassau Veterinary Clinic in 1985 after graduating from Cornell University. She bought ownership in the practice in 1987 and led the planning and construction of its current facility.

“I am happy to be a milestone as the 50th hospital purchased by CVP,” Dr. Dietrich said. “We like having the ability to practice medicine and surgery the way we prefer and that CVP allows us to do so.”

After graduating from Cornell University, Dr. Phillips became a veterinarian at Nassau Veterinary Clinic in 1982 and a partner in 1985. In 2007, he became a member of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry and now performs advanced dental procedures on patients from the larger Capital District area.

Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) owns and operates veterinary hospitals and is committed to providing world-class treatment and health services to animals. The company strives to maintain each hospital’s individual brand and reputation in its community. The CVP family currently consists of 50 animal hospitals in 10 states. More information is available at www.cvpco.com/.

PHILADELPHIA (June 11, 2018) – Wellesley Animal Hospital in Massachusetts is the newest member of the Community Veterinary Partners family. The purchase of the practice brings CVP’s total group to 49 animal hospitals along the East Coast.

Dr. Elizabeth Hartman is the founder and owner of Wellesley Animal Hospital. She’s a Boston native and graduated from Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine in 1991.

“We are excited to join the CVP family and look forward to our new partnership adventure!” Hartman said.

Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) owns and operates veterinary hospitals and is committed to providing world-class treatment and health services to animals. The company strives to maintain each hospital’s individual brand and reputation in its community. The CVP family currently consists of 49 animal hospitals in 10 states. More information is available at www.cvpco.com/.

PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has appointed Kevin Ruffe as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 12, 2018. He will also join CVP’s Board of Directors.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, CVP manages 46 veterinary hospitals in 10 states. “Kevin’s appointment is a reflection of CVP’s tremendous growth over the past few years and more importantly CVP’s positioning for even stronger growth in the coming years,” said Daniel Eisenstadt, CVP co-founder and Board member.

“I look forward to being a part of this exciting time of expansion for CVP,” Ruffe said. “Throughout my career, I’ve had success managing health care companies as they grow and scale over time, and I see a lot of opportunity for CVP in the coming years.”

Founded in 2009, CVP’s mission is to provide operational support to its hospitals, enabling veterinarians to focus on practicing medicine and providing high-quality pet care. CVP’s hospitals have the benefit of accessing a variety of business tools, such as marketing, leadership development, HR support and finance, while keeping local control of clinical practices.

“What makes us different is that we provide support to our vet partners, but at the same time we allow them to maintain their brand and vision,” Ruffe said. “This means the customers at each of our partner hospitals see even greater levels of service since our partner vets have more time to focus on pet care and worry less about the challenges of running the day-to-day business…”

Prior to joining CVP, Ruffe was the Chief Growth Officer at MedExpress, where he was instrumental in building MedExpress into a national leader of urgent care services with nearly 250 locations caring for almost 4 million patients per year. Ruffe earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in business management from Rider University. He will be relocating to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh.

CVP is controlled by an affiliate of Cortec Group, a private equity firm based in New York, that invests in middle market health care, specialty service, consumer and distribution businesses.

About Community Veterinary Partners

Community Veterinary Partners owns and operates veterinary hospitals and is committed to providing world-class treatment and health services to animals. The company strives to maintain each hospital’s individual brand and reputation in its community. The CVP family currently consists of 45 animal hospitals in 10 states. More information is available at www.cvpco.com.

About Cortec

Founded in 1984, affiliates of Cortec invest in high value-added, middle-market healthcare, specialty service, consumer, and distribution businesses from owners and management teams who want to work with Cortec to drive growth and improve business fundamentals. Additional information about Cortec can be found at www.cortecgroup.com.

PHILADELPHIA (March 21, 2018) – Community Veterinary Partners is pleased to announce that it has acquired Granville Small Animal Hospital.

The purchase of the Middle Granville, N.Y.-based veterinary practice brings CVP’s total practice group to 45 animal hospitals along the East Coast.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Meyer, owner of Granville Small Animal Hospital, graduated from Cook College of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science degree and earned his Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. He joined the Granville Veterinary Services team in 1984 and developed a small animal service within the existing practice. The two hospitals separated in 1996, establishing Granville Small Animal Hospital as its own practice. “The staff at Granville Small Animal Hospital is very excited about partnering with Community Veterinary Partners. We feel it will enable us to continue practicing medicine at a high level and serve our clients as we always have.” Says Dr. Meyer, “I will be able to stay on and provide the continuity of care and service that may not have been possible had the practice been sold to a private buyer. The folks at CVP have been great, very helpful and supportive throughout the transition, greatly alleviating what could have been an extremely stressful time for us. We look forward to a long and productive partnership.”

Granville Small Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary medical facility and offers a variety of services, including emergency and clinical care, dental care, boarding, nutritional counseling, and wellness exams. The practice consists of three doctors: Meyer, Holly Baker and Beth Kissack.

“We are so excited to expand our footprint in New York state with the addition of Granville Small Animal Hospital,” said Dennis McMichael, director of Integration at CVP. “Their emphasis on the human–animal bond and state-of-the-art veterinary medicine makes them a welcome addition to the CVP family.”

About Community Veterinary Partners

Community Veterinary Partners (CVP) owns and operates veterinary hospitals and is committed to providing world-class treatment and health services to animals. The company strives to maintain each hospital’s individual brand and reputation in its community. The CVP family currently consists of 45 animal hospitals in 10 states. More information is available at www.cvpco.com/.